Children need a family. They need a place to call home. They need a place where they know they’ll be celebrating the holidays for years to come. They need their siblings. They need parents who will be their parents for life.

Hundreds of children are in the guardianship of the State of Tennessee. The Department can find them foster homes, group homes and other residential settings. But children need a permanent home.

Some biological parents may make the adoption plan for their child; other children’s parental rights have been terminated due to abuse, neglect or the inability of the parents to provide adequate care. Some of the children have extra physical, emotional or educational needs.

Most children range from early school age to teenage years; some have one or more siblings and there are all ages of African-American and mixed race children waiting for an adoptive family.